Open Library
![[screenshot]](/serve/arcade_joust/joust_screenshot.png)
Internet Arcade: Joust
Published 1982
INSTRUCTIONS
Joust is a platforming game where the player controls a yellow knight riding a flying ostrich or stork, from a third-person perspective. Using the two-way directional joystick and the button for flapping the ostrich's wings, the player flies the knight amidst the floating rock platforms and above pools of lava; when maneuvering off the screen to either side, the player will continue its path reappearing from the opposite side. The rate at which the player repeatedly presses the button causes the ostrich to fly upward, hover, or slowly descend.
The objective is to defeat groups of enemy knights riding buzzards that populate each level, referred to as a "wave". Upon completing a wave, a subsequent more-challenging wave will begin.
Players navigate the knight to collide with enemies. The elevation of an enemy in relation to the player's knight determines the outcome of the collision. If the protagonist is higher than the enemy, the villain is defeated and vice versa. A collision of equal elevations results in the two knights bouncing off each other. A defeated enemy will turn into an egg that falls toward the bottom of the screen, which a player can collect for points. An egg that sits on a platform long enough will hatch into a new knight; if the player does not pick him up, he will gain a new mount and must be defeated again.
The game features three types of enemy knights—Bounder, Hunter, and Shadow Lord—that are worth different amounts of points. A pterodactyl will appear after a predetermined time frame to hunt the hero.
A second player, controlling a blue knight on a stork, can join the game. The two players can either cooperatively complete the waves or attack each other while competitively defeating enemies.
KEYS
When the Joust game starts in the emulator, it will eventually show the message FACTORY SETTINGS RESTORED and pause. Press the ADVANCE button on the on-screen control panel to set the Joust arcade machine playing and ready for quarters.
Press the on-screen control panel to insert quarters and start a one or two-player game. If you would prefer to use the keyboard (or are in full-screen mode), press 5 to insert quarters, and press 1 or 2 to start a one or two-player game.
PLAYER ONE: Use the left and right arrow keys to turn the knight, and either CTRL key to flap.
PLAYER TWO: Use the D and G keys to turn the knight, and the A key to flap.
Joust is an arcade game developed by Williams Electronics and released in 1982. It is a platform game that features two-dimensional (2D) graphics. The player uses a button and joystick to control a knight riding a flying ostrich. The object is to progress through levels by defeating groups of enemy knights riding buzzards.
John Newcomer led the development team, which included Bill Pfutzenrueter, Jan Hendricks, Python Anghelo, Tim Murphy, and John Kotlarik. Newcomer aimed to create a flying game with co-operative two-player gameplay, but wanted to avoid a space theme, which was popular at the time. Staff worked within the technical limitations of the hardware (originally developed two years earlier for Williams' first game, Defender), excluding concepts and optimizing the visuals.
The game was well received in arcades and by critics, who praised the gameplay. The gameplay mechanics influenced titles by other developers. Joust was followed by a sequel three years later, and was ported to numerous home and portable platforms.
1 Player Start 1
2 Players Start 2
Coin 1 5
Coin 2 6
Coin 7 7
Tilt T
P1 Left LEFT
P1 Right RIGHT
P1 Button 1 LCONTROL or Mouse B1
P2 Left D
P2 Right G
P2 Button 1 A
Auto Up F1
Hight Score Reset 9
Advance F2
Identifier arcade_joust
Scanner Internet Archive Python library 0.7.0
Publicdate 2014-08-16 03:24:53
Mediatype software
Addeddate 2014-08-16 03:24:53
Creator Williams
Emulator joust
Emulator_ext zip
Date 1982
Year 1982
Genre Platform / Run Jump
Cpu M6809
Emulator_keybd arcade-williams
Backup_location ia905902_13
Reviews
Reviewer:
gnothis -
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
March 18, 2017
Subject: can I change controls?
Subject: can I change controls?
Love this game but I learned with the flap button on my right hand and directional on my left. Can I change the keyboard commands? I used to be able to on Shockwave.
Reviewer:
KingSolidTails -
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
February 6, 2017
Subject: Fixed it
Subject: Fixed it
ENJOYABLE GAME!! WISH I WAS BORN WHEN ARCADES WERE A THING!
Reviewer:
LC1958 -
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
September 1, 2016
Subject: Great classic game!!
Subject: Great classic game!!
I don't have an onscreen control panel, but I figured out using the keyboard commands. What a great game, takes me back!
Reviewer:
chopshopstore -
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
July 14, 2016
Subject: To exit Factory Setting screen
Subject: To exit Factory Setting screen
If it hangs up on FAC SETTINGS mode on a mac, just hit F2.
Reviewer:
Nmangamer1 -
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
June 13, 2015
Subject: A Blast From the Past
Subject: A Blast From the Past
Joust is a game, I sadly did not grow up with. Unlike many playing this game, I was born years after. That being said this is the first retro game I have played by way of the Internet Arcade and I enjoyed it. Needless to say I'm growing up in a generation where games are made with as realistic of graphics as possible and with stories that are relate-able to film. However this game is very entertaining the simple mechanics yield itself well and the games bizarre ideas of a "joust" make it all the more entertaining. However there is a slight problem as the ostrich is hard to control for new players, so don't expect to be a master at it. That being said I would definitely recommend this game to anyone who hasn't experienced it.
Reviewer:
drunken_wookiee -
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
March 28, 2015
Subject: Keyboard Controls
Subject: Keyboard Controls
CTRL button jumps
Left and Right arrow keys move
P pauses the game
Left and Right arrow keys move
P pauses the game
In Collection
Internet Arcade
